Navola is a gripping story set in a dangerous, power-driven city-state. It follows Davico di Regulai, heir to a powerful family, as he faces betrayal, power struggles, and the harsh realities of loyalty and ambition. It’s a reminder that power is fragile, and loyalty can be deadly. You’re shown how ambition and family loyalty often clash, leading to personal and societal collapse.

While I enjoyed the overall story it does have its faults. Pacing seems to be a hit or miss during the story but when it hit it hits. There are some darker moments in the book that seem a little too unnecessary but overall it’s excels in world building and a gripping tale.

If you're into gritty, thought-provoking reads that challenge the nature of power and loyalty, Navola gives you all that in a quick, sharp hit.

I only made it through about six chapters before I had to give up. The huge blocks of exposition, the neverending wordiness thanks to the piling on of prepositional phrases and the repetitive syntax, and the confusing mess of what I think was supposed to be worldbuilding but ended up just being a dump of unexplained, contextless terms.....

It was exhausting to read just the opening few chapters, and I couldn't imagine 600 more pages of it. I loved Bacigalupi's YA and middle grade books--and so did my students--but this attempt at adult fantasy just did not work.


***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

This is a very well written book. So much so that it was completely immersive and gripping even though nothing much actually happened until about 80% into to the book, when suddenly something completely unexpected and devastating happens. Woah. If that was the end of the book I'd never pick up another by Bacigalupi. But, such a good storyteller is he, in the remaining 20% basically told another story altogether, which got my mental wheels spinning imagining where we're going from here. So, I'm hooked. But still shocked.

Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi is a strikingly original and thought-provoking science fiction novel that explores the delicate balance between humanity and technology in a dystopian future. Set in a world where advanced technologies collide with environmental collapse, the story follows a protagonist navigating the complexities of survival, identity, and moral dilemmas. Bacigalupi’s writing is sharp and immersive, with a world that feels both incredibly detailed and unsettlingly real. The novel’s exploration of ethics, personal sacrifice, and the long-term consequences of unchecked technological advancement makes Navola an intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant read. Fans of speculative fiction will find this novel to be a compelling and challenging journey.

While Navola has some strong elements—particularly its political worldbuilding—it struggles with pacing, character depth, and overall engagement. The novel reads more like a historical chronicle than a fantasy adventure, with long stretches of slow-moving political discussions and day-to-day noble training. It takes over 170 pages for anything remotely interesting to happen, and even then, the momentum quickly stalls.

The writing style, which leans heavily on exposition, makes it difficult to become emotionally invested in the characters. If you’re expecting a rich fantasy world with magic, action, or adventure, you’ll likely be disappointed. However, if you enjoy slow-burn historical politics and Renaissance-style court intrigue, you may find Navola more appealing.

The ending was satisfying and hinted at a sequel, but given the slow pace of this book, I’m unsure if I’ll continue the series.

In a word: Ew.

There were a lot of things about this book that made me want to like it. The first half shows excellent world building and has a lot of very well structured palace intrigue. But the second half is essentially nothing but the protagonist being horribly tortured over and over. I’m talking hundreds of pages of nothing but torture and suffering.

Though I think the book poses some interesting questions about what makes a successful ruler rather than a just and likable one (as Fantasy books are usually wont to do), it all breaks down when the story is reduced to the endless torment of the main character.

Our protagonist is weak, and it is his weakness that leaves him vulnerable to this. An excellent commentary on why his kingdom was overthrown and why he isn’t fit to rule. But as a justification for torture porn? Nope. For the record I’m not sure there is ever a justification for torture porn, but this certainly isn’t it.

And it’s difficult to endure with him knowing that all of this came about through no real fault of his own. Sins of the father, and all that, but the egregiousness of it beggars both belief and the ability of your stomach to not revolt while reading it.

A toned down version of this would have been excellent. A sort of combination of Game of Thrones style high fantasy and something of Late Medieval Italy with a few fantastical elements thrown in. But in the end, there’s too much horrific (but only for shock value) content, and there’s no pleasure or even any real lesson for the reader in hundreds of pages of torture.

One piece of good news: The dog will be ok. But otherwise: Yuck.

Intriguing, old-school political fantasy which is relatively light on fantastical elements, for a book with a dragon's eye on its cover. Reminds me of Goblin Emperor in its somewhat naive protagonist who is an innocent in a cutthroat world.

Note to self: do not request sweeping historical fantasy and try to read it on maternity leave. You will hate it and it will not work out. Wish I felt differently!

This is a beautifully written story that follows a man through various stages of his life, set against the backdrop of old Italy. We see him as a young boy learning about life and his family, a young man preparing to step into the family business as a banker, and as an adult grappling with the collapse of his life and how he deals with his losses. Although this wasn’t my favorite genre, I can truly appreciate the skillful writing. I’d recommend it to those who enjoy coming-of-age stories set in historical settings.

It’s tricky to write this review- Paolo Bacigalupi is a masterful writer and one of my favorites so it’s hard to admit that this book was a tough one to read. The part I struggled with the most was the pacing and the sheer amount of detail. It took me a month to get about halfway through and in that first part not much happened. If you are someone who enjoys immersing themselves in a highly detailed world then you may get more enjoyment out of the first part of the novel. The story does start to pick up and fill in around the halfway point and I found myself more interested in what was happening. There was an incredible amount of political intrigue and betrayals and backstabbing that kept the pace of the second half more interesting to follow. Last but not least on a personal note - I always want there to be more dragon and I wish the mystery of Davico’s link to the dragon eye played more of a part in the story.

Thanks to Knopf Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
4.5/5

"Of the dragon eye's authenticity there could be no doubt. It was not round as one might think; it retained tendrils of draconic nerves crystallized- fine shards, sharp as daggers- that trailed from hind the eye so that it was less an orb than a teardrop."

Sometimes a story just feels like it comes out of nowhere and takes you completely by surprise. Did I request this because of the cover and it said "dragon".....I sure did. Did it end up being something totally different from what I expected.....boy, did it ever!!! This has to be the most subtle dragon fantasy I have ever read, if you are looking for dragon battles, this is not your book. However, it is so well worth your time to sink into the gorgeous prose and lose yourself with the di Regulai of Navola. This reads more like historical fiction and the parallels to the Medici's and Florence are certainly there, as are all the political machinations, feud's, betrayals and surprising turns. The world of Navola is lush, full of good wines, food and a marvelous cast of characters. The story is told by Davico di Regulai, the only son and heir to the banking house of the di Regulai and the pressures to live up to his father's expectations are tremendous. As Davico navigates these pressures, the enemies of the di Regulai are constantly trying to undermine and overthrow them and Davico finds he somehow has a bond with the spirt of the dragon in the dragon's eye.

I was so engrossed in this story even though it is slow paced, it just doesn't want to let you go. This world is so beautifully realized, and the writing just carries you fully into it, and you find yourself on the edge of your seat wondering what is coming next for Davico. The characters are flawed, and full of life, I loved Celia and Cazzetta, the family's stilettotore, they bring so much to Davico's life, and you just know there is going to be pain at some point. I listened to the audiobook, and it was wonderfully read. If you are a fan of Guy Gavriel Kay, I think you will enjoy Navola, this is an author and a story that is well worth the time you spend with it. This is not a stand-alone and I am so looking forward to the next book in this series to see what Davico does next!!

In Paolo Bacigalupi's latest genre-twisting fantasy novel, the kind and sensitive scion of a mob-like banking family comes of age. Davico di Regulai is wide-eyed but not far-seeing. And that is a perilous fault in this fantasy world resembling 15th Century Florence, Italy, with its newfangled general ledger accounting, its political machinations, and ruthless dynasties. The novel's language is familiar, yet fantastical. It sounds like a story from Game of Thrones (including dragonlore) meets the Medicis' Florence mixed with The Godfather's Sicily and New York.
"You must be as sharp as a stilettotore's dagger and as subtle as a fish beneath the waters. This is what it is to be Navolese, this is what it is to be di Regulai."
The action and intrigue build incrementally. I have never been so glad to stick with a novel that I initially thought slow. It's my favorite book of 2024. Just in time.

[Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]

While this is a slow burn, it is a great addition to the genre. The dense, in-depth world building and character driven nature of this novel may have some readers craving more plot/battles as would be typical in a GOT like novel but I loved it. There's complexity and intrigue, excellent characterization, and some fantasy to add a dash of magical interest.

I love this book. I LOVE this book. I'm not even sure "book" is the right word if I'm being completely honest. It's truly a piece of art. Bacigalupi makes you *feel* everything so acutely. His words evoke a visceral reaction, not necessarily always good ones, but you will feel what he wants you to feel all the same--as all truly great artists can do.

And as for the plot and actual contents of this book, I will paint in broad strokes here as to not deprive anyone of the joys of uncovering each character and plot thread themselves (if you want a spoiler-y review, this is probs not the review for you). The plot is messy (in the best way possible!), bloody, sexy, and full of intrigue. I've given my GOT fan husband a rundown of the book and he confirmed what the other reviews say (and then some): "sounds a lot like GOT and Assassin's Creed got together and made a baby" so do with that what you will lol.

I know some people have a problem with the pacing of this book and all I have to say about that is:

Look, it's a great book. You will feel things. You will be disgusted. You will be horrified. You will (probably) cry. You will laugh (possibly with derision, but hey). You will cringe. You will [want] to throw this book at a wall (but don't do it! You're better than that!). If a slow-burn start is something you can't get past, then it is what it is. It's a really long book so if you choose to buy it and read it, it's kind of a commitment. But if you read the synopsis and some reviews and think, "hey, these things are for me! I like these things!" Then I promise you the payoff is *so* worth it. Things will pick up. Maybe a little too much... *Wink wink nudge nudge*

I will leave you with one final thing to consider before you decide if this book is worth it. I will *absolutely* be re-reading this beautiful monster of a book. And I haven't even re-read the Harry Potter series. *Mic drop*

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended.

Navola was an excellent read. I loved the character development and the writing was propulsive. I would read more from the author.

Like the author said in his acknowledgements, this was quite a lengthy book. Sometimes it dragged and other times I would fly through chapters in a sitting. The storytelling was well done and felt incredibly authentic to a renaissance fantasy setting. I appreciated the detailed level of world building, and only wished that this was a whole series. I was enjoying the book up until probably 60% through and then got really upset with the plot. Avoiding spoilers, the author took a drastic, unexpected turn that was difficult to read. However, I think the ending was better than expected, even if it left the reader hanging a bit.

This was an enjoyable fantasy read; it definitely sucked me in as a reader of the genre and I'll want to continue with the series. I read it in bursts and found myself putting it down for a little while at a time, but every time I picked it up again, I fell back in love. A really solid kick-off to the world.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was truly excellent, though I admit and know it will not be to everyone's taste.

Navola is full of politics and intrigue, desire and betrayal, love and enemies. The fantasy is light, with a Dragon's Eye and mentions of magic and gods, but it's there and important throughout Davico's story. The setting is stunning against a Renaissance Italy-style background with all the things that make literary fiction a triumph - ambitions and alliances and of course, traitors and murder and shows of power. It was delicious in its intelligence and brutality and I loved every word.

Do not go into this expecting high fantasy or a ton of action - do no expect to leave with a grand or triumphant or even really, depending on your opinion, happy ending. This book leads you through the life of Davico and all he learns and succeeds at and, ultimately, at everything he fails at too. It's not exciting in the way a book full of battle is (though there is plenty of blood) but I found it fascinating and engaging and enticing all the same.

I love literary fantasy and this is an incredible addition to the genre!

This book is a political intrigue and coming-of-age fantasy novel that follows Davico di Regulai, who is a contemplative and insecure protagonist who is heir to the wealthiest and most influential banking family in Navola, the city-state in which they live.

The main character and narrator, Davico di Regulai, tells the story of his youth: from childhood through adolescence and into his early twenties. In that time, we learn that Davico is a contemplative, careful individual who develops a love of nature and comes to respect its simplicity.

While he learns the family business, all he wants is to leave the world behind and live out his life in peace, free of Navola's brutal politics and his father's growing expectations. He feels inadequate to fill his father Devonaci's brilliant shoes and seeks constant validation of his worth from his father and teachers.

Throughout the book, even in his younger years, his primary concern is that he's not a worthy heir and that he doesn't possess the skills and talents to be what his family needs him to be. His thoughtful and honest nature paired with his desire to please and impress his father make him seem weak and stupid to everyone around him, which is a deadly thing to be in the merciless political games of the Navolese nobility.

The only true connection Davico feels is with his adopted sister, Celia, who is much shrewder and strategic, and Davico feels constantly compared to her, even though she can never inherit.

Unable to escape his burdens of responsibility and inadequacy, he seeks distraction and finds it in his father's most prized possession: a crystallized dragon eye.

Davico is a frustrating main character because he doesn't understand a lot of social interactions that seem obvious to everyone around him and most times to the reader as well. His thoughtful nature impacts the storytelling, as the narrator is an older Davico explaining the world, the story, and sometimes his choices to us.

I know that Davico is the protagonist because he's the one with the largest opportunity for growth and therefore possesses the most dramatic and impactful character arc.

But because of his characterization through most of the story, his contemplative nature makes him seem dull and boring in comparison to the clever, focused people around him who are all, as far as we can tell, confident in themselves and their place in the world. All things that Davico is not, thus the coming-of-age.

None of that makes his slow development any less frustrating, but it does make the end so much more satisfying.

Celia di Balcosi, Davico's adopted sister, as stated earlier, is much more perceptive and clever. Due to an horrific childhood experience and how she came to be in the Regulai household, she went through a trial by fire and learned from it.

This is where we first meet her.

She is easily a favorite character and is the main reason why Davico is so frustrating. They are excellent foils for each other, which is probably why they get along so well, as well as one of the reasons why the story is so engaging.

Celia's changes are as abrupt as the rest of what she does, shifting the story in new and interesting ways. Often these are small, driving Davico forward where he would normally hesitate.

I'm uncertain whether this is a series or not, as it hasn't been announced and was released in a manner that seems like a standalone. I hope it isn't, though, because I still have questions and feel that many of the characters deserve more than uncertainty.

All in all, I give this book three stars: well-written, well-crafted. But for most of the story, Davico is not a compelling protagonist and that makes for slow reading. I think this will change if it turns into a series, but that remains to be seen.